IUPD participate in annual run for Special Olympics

IUPD Lt. Greg Butler biked roughly 70 miles from Indianapolis to Terre Haute on Saturday. He was not alone. \nButler and IUPD Sgt. Dave Rhodes participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run along with about 185 other police officers. The participants started at Victory Field in Indianapolis at 7:30 a.m. and traveled along U.S. 40 to finish at the Indiana State University Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute. \nThe event kicked off the 2007 Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games at ISU. Rhodes ran about two legs – which totaled about 5 miles – of the twenty-leg trek. Butler biked the entire trip. Rhodes said four torches were passed off to different people throughout the run. \nRhodes and Butler train cadets at the police academy in the summer and work out often, both of which enable them to keep in shape for the Torch Run. \nBoth police officers have participated in the Torch Run for about 10 years. IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said he appreciates their involvement. \n“They’ve been such great supporters,” he said. “Because of them, the police department has gotten involved.” \nButler and Minger mentioned that Ernie Ham, who is a Special Olympian, works with the IUPD doing odd jobs around the office. Ham adds a personal reason for Butler’s involvement with Special Olympics. \n“Special Olympics is a good cause,” Butler said. “The young adults who participate, as well as Ernie, are an inspiration. It’s a good chance to give back to them.” \nRhodes said that although temperatures were higher than they had been in previous days, the weather was still nice. Butler had a different story: About six miles outside of Terre Haute, he was stuck in a downpour. He wound up missing the final leg of the trip – a lap around the ISU Memorial Stadium with the Special Olympians. \n“We had to stop for a little while,” Butler said. “When we finally got (to Terre Haute), they had already gone into the stadium. That was the first time I missed that.” \nRhodes said his favorite part of the Torch Run was not the run itself but being able to give to the Special Olympians the money they raised. \n“If I can donate a bit of time to a good cause, it’s well worth the time,” he said.